i figured this would be a good area to ask this question because it has to do with fabrication, but what is the best CHEAP welder for my buck. i would only be using it for simple stuff like fixing my floor in the future, fixing a hanger on an exhaust, maybe even making my own bumper down the road. not looking to spend too much dont have an exact price range cuz i might split the price with my brother

any advice is appreciated thanks

 

I got a hobart EZ welder from tractor supply a few years back. Its just a flux core MIG w/o a conversion for gas. It was only about 325$ pretty cheap unless you want a stick welder, which I wouldnt recommend for exhaust work. I've hung a few exhaust systems using my little Hobart and it works great. It can be kinda tricky to get thicker stuff done though. Most I ever did with was to rehand a LCA bracket back on an axle for a friend. Next to that would be my roof rack with at most was 1/2 inch rod and it worked way better than I would have guessed. If your realyl looking for cheap you can go to harbor freight and but a flux core MIG for a little cheaper, but dont expect it to last through one spool of wire but If your budget has the room, so some research and get a flux core MIG that can be converter to gas. They are a little more pricey but converted to gas in the future will greatly broaden what you can do with it.

 

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so i dont know tooo much about welding, done a little myself but im not pro, looking to learn..im guessing the gas welders are better tho by the sound of it? not looking to buy a piece of junk and the little research ive done so far tells me not to buy harbor freight

 

how did i know this would happen...lol
just looking for the best advice, who else better to ask then fabricators themselves...

 

look on craigslist for deals. brand new for thin metal Wally world sells a campbell hausfeld fluxcore wire feed welder that works pretty good on thin stuff. it goes for around $230. the down side of it is the duty cycle is pretty short so plan on doing a little at a time.

 

The fabricators view more than just the Fab section...

 

I have one of those Hobart 125ez welders, been a good little welder, I've done numerous projects with it, I just used it to install my new exhaust a little while back and I've used it to build a tire carrier. But I kind of regret not getting the one that was shielding gas capable and could weld aluminum.

 

I picked up a Hobart handler 140 for my first welder to learn on. Not exactly cheap at 500$ but well worth it, you have the gas option, it's 115V so it's super portable as you can plug it in almost anywhere, enough power for most things,and it's not tht heavy.

After using it for the first time this weekend I'm really happy with it, I had decent looking (good penetration) welds in 1/4" scrap in about 15 minutes...keep in mind I've never welded before this.

Look at it this way, its an investment, do it right the first time around and cry once about the money lol.

 

I agree with storm 101. Spend the little extra money now. I have been welding for 10 years now as a job. But you can find awesome machines for fairly cheap if your patient. Do not get harbor freight. I played with one once. Sure it was a wire feed but i had to strike an arc like it was a stick welder. Yes i had a good ground on a clean piece of material. JUNK! Ha ha. A friend of mine has a millermatic 140. Its good to weld up to 3/16" on gas and i think 1/4 with flux core. We built a roll cage bumpers sliders tube doors ect. Great machine. He got it for $500. And it will run a spool gun for aluminum. Hobart miller lincoln are all good. I think miller actually owns hobart now but dont quote me on that.

 

I have a miller 211 and love it I also weld for a living and no offense to any of you guys when I say this I know everyone is diff but I wouldn't recommend anything else besides a miller! Their quality and their customer service and let's not forget the warranty!! I know the 211 is pricey but I just wanted the option to weld 120 or 230 I think the 140 is the lower model and I can imagine it would be just as good! Plus trust me it is well work the money no matter what kind of welder you buy, buy a good one you never want to second guess anything when it comes to welding! Just thought I would throw in my two cents

 

X2!!! I picked up a millermatic135 for $400 at a pawn shop

 

yep, crazy short duty cycle, & thats what I presently use, it is convertible to gas, but I have run at least 5, 10lb rolls through it, & it welds decent. for money, it does good, I like the portability. easy to carry around the yard to do small projects, & have patched floors, welded in nuts to hold door on inner post, & many projects around former farm & around house.

if you can afford it, spend more & get a name brand, & I had a Miller 140, great welder in every aspect, but I gave it to a close friend that helped me out of a very bad situation. I miss it, but thing was heavy to carry around.

one that looks good for the money is the Eastwood, but no experience with it.

as for craigslist, be careful! around here people ask new prices, or more than new, & many times alot more than new, especially if the new is on sale, & want their money back, or looking for a sucker, & if they are not asking new prices, they are for sale still priced too high to be worth chancing a used machine without a warranty, in last 3 years, I have not seen 1 priced reasonable unless it was broken, or 3 phase, & I check 5 semi-local craigslist a day, or try to.

 

Agree with others on this one, get a nice Hobart, Miller, or Lincoln now and convert it later to MIG. I have a pro core 100 lincoln i just converted. For a 110 welder its awesome. You will learn your own welder over time no matter what brand you buy. Just buy a brand that you think will be around forever. Good luck building stuff! Great to see others doing this stuff!

 

Hobart 140 Handler is great. Can weld just about anything you'd want for your Jeep. Comes with the regulator too so all you'd need is a tank. Or just run flux wire.